Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-11
THE RAILROADS,
An Emphatic Declaration from the Gould
People as to the Frisco.

From the Globe Democrat7
The most emphatic declaration that has
recently been made in railroad circles Is one
just coming from the Gould people with a
directness making it almost official, to the
effect that the Atchison, Topeka and Santa
Fee has not secured control of the st. Louis
and San Francisco, and, what is more to
the point, is not likely to very soon. There
has been much talk Of late, which refuses
to be stitied by repeated contradictions,
concerning the possibility of the purchase
of the Frisco by the Atchison system, or,
at least, OF an amalgamation of the two
corporations, which amounts to pretty
much the same thing. While the whole
subject is the butt for ridicule of every
one officially connected with the FRS
CO, all pointing to the vigor-
Gus rumor, long since exploded, that the
Missouri Pacific was to Immediately &C
quire control of the former line, as evi
dence that all stories tending to belittle 1t
are to be discredited. there are nevertheless
many who continue to insist that there Is
nothing at all probable in such consolida-
ton; that the tendancy of the day leans
more and more to centralization-even
when Its effects strike down through over
ager or observation-disclosures that the
fusing of two such systems would abound
in nothing but good results. Just what
these results would be no one has yet
clearly explained, content with falling
back on the reputation of the Atchison and
its foresight In railroading, together with
its undoubted aggressiveness and financial
backing, as safe vantage ground from
which to deliver glittering generalities.
Out, waving all future possibilities,
the truth appears to be that
both Mr.. Gould and the Atchi-
ison contingent have had jealous eye on
the Frisco for some time past, one being
afraid of the other, and that from this ia
vored attention those frequently recurring
rumors have arisen. Mr.. Gould is be-
lieved, though unsuccessful in his attempt,
to have striven for the mastery in the last
Frisco election, and naturally resists any
similar combination on the part of rival.
That qe himself believed the Atchison had,
of late, been going little too far in the
matter however, may be gathered from his
remark In New York last week, to the
effect that the stock market might shortly
undergo some strange commissions, coupled
with the coincidence of the Slump"
In Atchison stock as noted in the
special to the Globe Democrat. Since then
Mr.. Gould's people have been doing some
investigating, which not only caused the
emphatic declaration that the Atchison had
not reached the goal, and Is not likely to,
but is said to have convinced Mr.. Gould
that he himself is in much better position
than he supposed in regard to the Frisco
1t is intimated, in fact, that he has very
greatly strengthened his position, and may
yet succeed in his plans.
Then there is still another view of the
situation which. put by Frisco official the
other day, lends a novelty to the question,
and that is, if there is to be consolidation,
why should not the Frisco play absorber
and purchase the Atchisonb To be
sure, he says, it is not so aggressive
as the Atchison, nor is
the mileage of the system as great. 1t Is
not even so widely advertised, the manage
ment in this respect having always adopted
a most conservative tone and quietly pro-
ceeded In the business of making money
for the road. But the Frisco, with all its
modesty, perhaps represents more money
than President Strongs road and is con-
sidered quite capable of taking care of
irself. Just at present it seems to com
mand the situation, and if fusion of inter
ests should transpire, there will not be
few who might think twice before attribut
ing it to the power of the Santa Fe.